Golf | SA

Van Tonder wins IGT Battle of the Giants

South African Jacques van Tonder clinched his second IGT Tour title with a birdie on the final hole at the CMR Battle of the Giants at the CMR Golf Club in Maraisburg, Gauteng.

Van Tonder posted rounds of 70, 61 and 67. His 61 included a 28 on the front nine.

Van Tonder started the last round with a three-shot lead, but after 17 holes was sharing the lead with England's Steve Surrey, who finished with a seven-under 65 to be on 17 under par in the club house.

Needing to birdie the final hole to secure victory, 25-year-old Van Tonder followed a big drive on the par-five 18th and then found the greenside bunker with his second.

Knowing he needed to up and down to win, he calmly hit his bunker shot to within four feet of the hole and kept his nerve to sink the putt to win by one shot on 18 under par.

“There's an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders and I've set myself up nicely for the Kenya Open next week” said Van Tonder.

"I have gone back to my old coach, and feel like I can go on and win more."

Van Tonder's 11-under-par 61 in round 2 came to close the magical 59. He posted 7 under on his front nine and quickly went to 11 under after 14 holes.

Unfortunately on the last four holes he managed only pars to shoot his lowest tournament round of 61.

Wynand Dingle came close to shooting the perfect 9-hole score. In the final round he made 8 birdies and one bogey on his front nine for 7 under par and finished tied 3rd on 14 under par.

The limelight was stolen by Maritz Wessels on the last day when he went 9 under par for a 26 on his back nine. The 26 included 5 birdies, 2 eagles and 2 pars. His 63 in the last round moved him to tied 3rd.

Tyrone Ryan and Otto van Greunen also finished on 14 under par for tied 3rd place.